Snow displacing device with rotatable blade casing

ABSTRACT

A snow conveying vehicle mounting a conical member rotatable about a forwardly inclined horizontal axis. Helical vanes are internally secured to the conical member about a conical fairing to form an annular conveyor flow passage for the snow. Snow entering the larger inlet end is displaced rearwardly in response to rotation of the conical member and is discharged rearwardly from a smaller outlet end against a laterally directing deflector.

United States Patent 1151 3,696,535

Kallio 1451 Oct. 10, 1972 [5 SNOW DISPLACING DEVICE WITH 446,773 2/1891 Haughaiwout ..37/2l ROTATABLE BLADE CASING FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Oliver C. Kalllo, PO. Box 401,

Ironwood, i 49933 1,206,552 2/ 1960 France 59,501 2/1942 Denmark ..37/43 C [22] Flled- June 575,512 5/1959 Canada ..37/43 c [21] Appl. No.: 45,786

Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-R. E. Suter liil 1133!::JIJJJ::3J::JJJJJ::JIJJJJJJJJ:if???$163553 OBrien and Harvey Jacob- [58] Field of Search ..37/43, 41, 42, 45, 17, 20,

l 9 l [57] I ABSTRACT References Cit! A snow conveying vehicle mounting a conical member UNITED STATES PATENTS rotatable about a forwardly inclined horizontal axis. Helical vanes are internally secured to the con1ca1 973,402 10/1910 Barnett 198/215 X member about a conical fairing to form an annular 1,050,171 1/ 1913 Rlblet ..198/215 onveyor flow assage for the snow, Snow entering 3,220,574 11/1965 sefchffck 215 X the larger inlet end is displaced rearwardly in response Jonakln X to rotation of the conical member and is discharged 2,403,257 7/1946 Becker ..37/43 C rearwardly from a smaller outlet end against a laterally 1,567,495 12/1925 Fahrney ..37/43 B directing deflect 421,768 2/1890 Scheffler ..37/21 2,388,985 11/1945 Martin ..37/53 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEB BI 3.696.535

SHEET 1 [IF 2 v /a Fig. I0 20 42 Oliver 6. Ka/l/o IX VENTOR PATENTEB um 10 m2 sum 2 or 2 Oliver 6. Kal/ib INVENTOR.

SNOW DISPLACING DEVICE WITH ROTATABLE BLADE CASING This invention relates to a mobile material handling machine in general and more particularly to a snow removal vehicle.

Vehicle mounted snow removing equipment generally involve an auger for displacing snow from the path of the vehicle. Relatively small portable snow removing equipment because of the limited handling capacity has not been satisfactory. Large snow removing equipment on the other hand is relatively expensive, difficult to store and requires a towing or mounting vehicle of the self-propelled type. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a snow handling device which is relatively simple in construction, portable and nevertheless capable of handling a relatively large volumetric displacement.

in accordance with the present invention, a manually movable frame is rendered mobile by means of skids or runners and rotatably mounts above a forwardly inclined horizontal axis, a conical conveyor having its large diameter end disposed at the forward end of the frame for receiving the snow therein. An annular passage of rearwardly decreasing flow area is enclosed within the conveyor in order to rearwardly conduct the snow to a discharge end from which the snow is laterally deflected by a baffle. Helical vanes mounted within the annular passage induces rearward movement of the snow upon rotation of the outer conical member within which the passage is formed. Axially spaced tracks are secured to the outer conical member and frame mounted rollers engage the track to support the conical member for rotation about its axis. A drive motor is drivingly connected to the conical member for imparting rotation thereto.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the snow displacing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3--3 in FIG. 1

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the snow displacing device generally referred to by reference numeral includes a mobile or vehicle frame generally denoted by reference numeral 12 supported on the ground by a pair of laterally spaced skids or runners l4. Projecting rearwardly from the frame are a pair of handle portions 16 adapted to be grasped by the user for forwardly pushing the mobile frame along the ground in order to clear a path through a snow drift. for example.

A conveyor generally referred to by reference numeral 18 is mounted by the frame and includes an outer conical casing member 20 having a large diameter inlet end 22 and a small diameter outlet end 24 to which a tubular extension 26 is connected. Fixedly mounted by the frame in close spaced relation to the discharge end 28 of the tubular extension, is a baffle member 30. During forward movement of the frame, snow entering the inlet end 22 of the conical member passes through an annular passage 32 and is discharged from the end 28 of the tubular extension against the baffle 30 so that it may be deflected laterally of the frame or to one lateral side of the swath being cleared through the snow by the device 10.

The annular flow passage 32 is formed within the conical member about a continuous rearwardly converging fairing or center body 34 having a front nose portion 36 which projects forwardly from the inlet end 22 of the outer conical member 20. Thus, as more clearly seen in FIG. 3, the annular flow passage 32 decreases in flow area in a rearward direction.

The conveyor 18 is mounted for rotation about a forwardly inclined, horizontal axis which is fixed relative to the frame 12. Toward this end, the frame fixedly mounts a pair of axially spaced, annular rings 38 and 40 which rotatably mount a plurality of rollers 42 and 44. The rollers engage in channel track formations 46 and 48 secured to the conical member 20 and the tubular extension 26. Thus, the conical member and tubular extension are free to rotate about the aforementioned axis. Rotation is imparted to the conical member by means of a sprocket gear 50 externally secured thereto axially between the tracks 46 and 48. A sprocket chain 52 is entrained about the sprocket gear 50 and a drive gear 54 secured to the output shaft of an electric motor 56 mounted between the skids below the tubular extension 26 at an angle thereto so as to be disposed parallel to the rotational axis of the conveyor. The electric motor constitutes one form of prime mover it being appreciated however, that other motive sources of power may be utilized as well.

The conical member 20 and the internal fairing 34, are supported in concentric relationship to each other by a plurality of helical impeller vanes 58 which are secured internally to the conical member and externally to the fairing. Thus, in response to rotation of the conveyor and forward movement of the frame, movement of snow rearwardly through the annular passage 32 occurs vanes. The snow is accordingly pushed through the tubular extension 26 by continuous forced discharge thereof from the outlet end 24 of the conical member 20 and is deflected laterally by the baffle member 30 as aforementioned.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Apparatus for displacing a mass of material from one location to another, including a mobile frame adapted to be advanced in a forward direction, conveyor means forming an annular passage of decreasing flow area in a rearward direction, said passage terminating in a cylindrical tubular extension, means mounted externally of the conveyor means supporting the same on the frame for rotation about an axis fixed relative to the frame, drive means connected externally to the conveyor means for continuous rotation thereof to induce flow of the material through the passage, and deflector means fixedly mounted by the frame rearwardly of the conveyor means for laterally directing said material discharged from the conveyor means, said conveyor means including a conical fairing converging rearwardly, impeller means supported externally on the fairing within the annular passage, an outer conical member internally connected to the impeller means and having an inlet end from which the fairing projects forwardly and a smaller outlet end.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said conveyor supporting means includes axially spaced tracks externally fixed to the conical member in concentric relation to said fixed axis, and roller means mounted by the frame in engagement with said tracks.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said drive means is drivingly connected to the conical member between said tracks for imparting rotation to the conveyor means.

4. Apparatus for displacing a mass of material including a mobile frame, an outer conical casing having a large forward inlet end and a smaller rear end, a cylindrical tubular extension connected to the rear end of the casing, roller means mounted by the frame supporting the casing and the tubular extension for rotation about an axis fixed relative to the frame, deflector means fixedly mounted by the frame for laterally deflecting material discharged rearwardly from the tubular extension, powered means mounted on the frame below and drivingly connected externally to the conical casing for imparting rotation thereto about said fixed axis, impeller means fixed to the casing internally thereof for displacing material received therein rearwardly into the tubular extension in response to rotation of the casing, and a continuous center body connected to the impeller means internally of the casing forming an annular passage through which the material is guided during movement through the casing and the tubular extension. 

1. Apparatus for displacing a mass of material from one location to another, including a mobile frame adapted to be advanced in a forward direction, conveyor means forming an annular passage of decreasing flow area in a rearward direction, said passage terminating in a cylindrical tubular extension, means mounted externally of the conveyor means supporting the same on the frame for rotation about an axis fixed relative to the frame, drive means connected externally to the conveyor means for continuous rotation thereof to induce flow of the material through the passage, and deflector means fixedly mounted by the frame rearwardly of the conveyor meaNs for laterally directing said material discharged from the conveyor means, said conveyor means including a conical fairing converging rearwardly, impeller means supported externally on the fairing within the annular passage, an outer conical member internally connected to the impeller means and having an inlet end from which the fairing projects forwardly and a smaller outlet end.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said conveyor supporting means includes axially spaced tracks externally fixed to the conical member in concentric relation to said fixed axis, and roller means mounted by the frame in engagement with said tracks.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said drive means is drivingly connected to the conical member between said tracks for imparting rotation to the conveyor means.
 4. Apparatus for displacing a mass of material including a mobile frame, an outer conical casing having a large forward inlet end and a smaller rear end, a cylindrical tubular extension connected to the rear end of the casing, roller means mounted by the frame supporting the casing and the tubular extension for rotation about an axis fixed relative to the frame, deflector means fixedly mounted by the frame for laterally deflecting material discharged rearwardly from the tubular extension, powered means mounted on the frame below and drivingly connected externally to the conical casing for imparting rotation thereto about said fixed axis, impeller means fixed to the casing internally thereof for displacing material received therein rearwardly into the tubular extension in response to rotation of the casing, and a continuous center body connected to the impeller means internally of the casing forming an annular passage through which the material is guided during movement through the casing and the tubular extension. 